Irving "Chip" Saunders Jr., 90, died peacefully on Friday, September 16, 2011 at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of the late Irving and Wilma Saunders. "Chip," "Whitey," or "Irv" as he was fondly called, was raised in Brooklyn, and graduated from Flushing High School in 1939. Two years after his graduation, he joined the Merchant Marine School at Hoffman Island, lower Manhattan Bay, NY. With the onset of World War II shortly thereafter, Chip applied for and was accepted into pilot training. After completing all phases of flight training at several US locations, he graduated to flying P-40s and P-51As and ultimately flew out of Suchuan Air Base, China as a Flying Tiger in support of the Far Eastern war effort.

After the war, he returned home and settled in northern Ohio in the suburbs east of Cleveland. During his time in this area, Chip worked at Merritt, Chapman, and Scott, a fine marine contractor that was eventually bought by an equally well known dredging company, Dunbar and Sullivan. He was the Paymaster and Labor Relations representative for both of these firms. After over 45 years in the Cleveland area, Chip resettled in Vero Beach, FL.

Chip's lifetime accomplishments were many. A few of the most notable were: Captain and Commanding Officer of the 107th Armored Calvary, Aviation Company, Wickliffe Rotary Club Past President; 007 American Legion Post Commander and District Commander (NE Ohio); Past President of the Military Officers Association (MOAA-Vero Beach, FL), 14th Air Force Association member, 23rd Fighter Group; and member of the China Burma India (CBI) Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
He was also a lifetime member of the VFW, MOAA, American Legion, and the CBI.

Chip was married to two wonderful wives, Lorna and Ann (both deceased) and is survived by two sons, Jeffrey and James and their children, and his sister, Wilma (Bubs) Baird and her children.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Asbury Methodist Church in Vero Beach.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com